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Monday, June 30, 2008

Writing a Tune

I was pleased to see in Adam Liptak’s Week in Review piece, The Chief Justice, Dylan and the Disappearing Double Negative (based on an article by Alex Long at the University of Tennessee), that Bruce Springsteen ranks as the third most-cited rocker in judicial opinions. However, I can’t help but think that, even coming in at number three, the Boss is being underutilized in the judicial lexicon. To help matters along, I offer the following suggestions for incorporating Springsteen lyrics into decisions going forward (and welcome to the suggestions of other Springsteen fans out there):

For suits alleging corruption in home lending practices:
“Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest.”
-The Ghost of Tom Joad, the ghost of Tom Joad

For suits challenging the issuance of permits to new coal-fired plants:
“From the Monongahela valley
To the Mesabi iron range
To the coal mines of Appalachia
The story’s always the same
Seven hundred tons of metal a day
Now sir you tell me the world’s changed”
-The Ghost of Tom Joad, Youngstown

For the immigration judge:
“They left their homes and family
Their father said ‘My sons one thing you will learn
For everything the north gives it exacts a price in
Return.’
-The Ghost of Tom Joad, Sinaloa Cowboys

For the criminal case:
“Your fingerprints on file
Left clumsily at the scene”
-Magic, Your Own Worst Enemy

For any case applying a balancing test:
“Well you may think the world’s black and white
And you’re dirty or you’re clean
You better watch out that you don’t slip
Through them spaces in between”
-Human Touch, Cross My Heart

And

“And what once seemed black and white turns to so many shades
Of gray”
-Greatest Hits, Blood Brothers